Al-Ahram Weekly | Egypt | Solidarity continues

		10 - 16 October 2002 Issue No. 607 Home news	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

Solidarity continues

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FOR THE SECOND week running, thousands of Egyptians demonstrated in solidarity with Palestinians and against a war on Iraq. On 3 October, a group of approximately 60 women attempted to demonstrate in front of the American Embassy in Garden City, but were prevented by embassy officials, forcing the rally to move to the nearby Simon Bolivar Square. Hundreds of anti-riot police cordoned off the demonstration, allowing only women to participate. "Down, down, USA", they shouted.
On 4 October following Friday prayers at Al- Azhar mosque, thousands of worshippers demonstrated against the US, denouncing its support for Israel and its plans for war on Iraq. The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi slammed the recently adopted US law recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. He said that Jerusalem has been "Arab and Muslim for more than 14 centuries". The week before, 3,000 people demonstrated outside Al-Azhar chanting "Arab leaders, save Palestine".
Al-Azhar mosque has been a frequent starting point for anti-American and anti-Israeli demonstrations, especially since the Al-Aqsa Intifada erupted in September 2000.
Students joined in the demonstrations on campus with the start of the new academic year last week. Fervent protests took place at Tanta, Menoufiya and Alexandria Universities for the second week, led by students from the Islamist political trend. According to a statement issued by Alexandria University students, the university's administration has put on probation 10 students from various faculties who participated in the demonstrations. "In whose interest is putting students on probation?" the statement asked, "we always thought that students had the right to express themselves as long as they did not go against the interests of the nation, but it seems that everything has been turned upside down."
The probation orders, however, did not deter Alexandria University students from holding a massive demonstration Tuesday morning, protesting the Khan Yunis massacre in which Israeli missiles killed 14 Palestinians. Ten thousand students participated in the rally, making it the largest since spring. Protesters burned the Israeli and American flags, called for a boycott of American products and demanded the expulsion of both the Israeli and American ambassadors from Egypt. They also urged President Hosni Mubarak not to invite delegations of Americans or Israelis to the opening of the Alexandria Library next week.

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